Dimensions of Choice Policy Analysis Paper

Policy Analysis: Child Support

Melannie Bannerman, Cassie Becnel, Shalee Carter, Laura Graeber, Kishon Hunter, Caroline

Wilson

Louisiana State University

SW 7504: Advanced Social Policy

Dr. Missy Malone

June 20, 2021

1. Policy (Cassie)

Identify the policy you are analyzing and the problem it attempts to address. Cite the formal

name and enabling legislation and provide relevant Internet links.

2. Bases of Allocation (Shalee)

a. Is allocation universal or selective?

b. Which social values are reflected: cost effectiveness or social effectiveness?

c. Which theories and assumptions underlie how money and/or services are allocated?

3. Types of Provision (Caroline)

Since its inception in 1950, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act

(URSEA) has undergone numerous revisions while trying to remain current (Kurtz & Sampson

Kurtz, 1993). By 1992 the countless revisions and amendments called for a completely new

system and the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFA) was enacted to permanently

replace URSEA. Kurtz & Sampson (1993) caution against writing off URSEA as a failure and

instead insist UIFA was needed to meet the changing, progressive demands of society. The need

for a centralized, federal enforcement of child support laws was also driven not by the goal of

caring for children, but fiscal conservatism and streamlining interstate child support orders.

Members of the child support enforcement community participated in extensive training of the

act in the 1990s and were active participants to the 1996, 2001 and 2008 amendments to UIFA.

Ideally, child support under UIFA is treated much like other income deductions.

Assuming the noncustodial parent is regularly employed, then income withholding for child

support is withheld, much the same as income tax, social security, or union dues (Office of Child

Support Enforcement, n.d.). If the noncustodial parent fails to make a payment or payments

approximating the value of one month then Congress has authorized immediate income

withholding. Ultimately, if payments are continually skipped or stopped, the child support office

may choose to collect payment in the form of state and federal tax offset, liens on personal

property, passport denial, freezing of bank accounts, or the seizure and sale of property to apply

to the debt (Office of Child Support Enforcement, n.d.).

4. Delivery Strategies (Kishon)

a. Which delivery strategies are used: public, private (non-profit), faith-based,

commercial?

b. Which (if any) strategies are used to promote

i. Coherence and accessibility?

ii. Cost control?

iii. Cultural competency?

c. Which social values, theories and assumptions underlie how services are delivered?

5. Modes of Finance (Laura)

a. What are the sources of funds are used?

b. Are there contributions or fees?

c. Which system of transfer is used?

d. Which types of conditions are imposed (program, financial, beneficiary, procedural)?

6. Social Work Values and Ethics (Melannie)

The six NASW Code of Ethics values are service, social justice, dignity and worth of the

person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. After assessment, the

Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) mainly embodies service, importance of human

relationships, and dignity and worth of the person. The ethical principle for the value of service

is that social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems

(NASW, 2021). The UIFSA reflects this value because it aims to assist and service single

parents, who need financial assistance with their child(ren). UIFSA addresses the lack of support

from the absent parent(s) and enforces an order of support to the custodial parent. The UIFSA

also helps to retain jurisdiction for support orders, therefore multiple support orders will not need

to be created.

The ethical principle for the value of importance of human relationships is that social

workers recognize the central importance of human relationships (NASW, 2021). Ideally, the

foundation of the creation of child support is based on creating and maintaining the bond of the

child(ren) and the absent or noncustodial parent. Children need to be supported mentally,

physically, and financially. Enforcing child support may help an absent parent to want to become

more involved in the child’s life.

The ethical principle for the value of dignity and worth of the person is that social

workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person (NASW, 2021). This value is

important because it helps with keeping the focus on the child(ren). The UIFSA focuses on not

creating multiple child support orders and instead establishing jurisdiction to follow that state’s

laws. UIFSA will enforce that the noncustodial parent makes payments to the custodial parent

for the child(ren). This helps to remember to keep the best interest of the child in mind.

Issues that could arise with child support agreements is that the noncustodial parent may

not necessarily be absent. In my opinion, child support does not evaluate all components of

parental relationships, and instead only focuses on the finances and the distribution of funds. For

example, the custodial parent may be withholding access to the child from the noncustodial

parent, but the noncustodial parent is still enforced to provide child support.

7. Conclusion (Do conclusion together?)

8. Appendix (This goes with yours Laura but we can work on it together when we meet if you

want!)

One table or figure to represent mode of finance.

References

Kurtz, P. A. & Sampson, J. J. (1993f. UIFSA: An interstate support act for the 21st century.

Family Law Quarterly, 27(1), 85-90.

NASW. (2021). National Association of Social Workers (NASW). NASW - National Association

of Social Workers. https://www.socialworkers.org/about/ethics/code-of-ethics/code-of-

ethics-english.

Office of Child Support Enforcement. (n.d.) Child Support Handbook.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ocse/chapter5_0.pdf